A population study of the amphipod Nototropis minikoi (Gammaridea, Atylidae) in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

The population structure, growth and fecundity of the amphipodNototropis minikoiin front of the Campechen Lagoon, Quintana Roo, were analysed. A total of 1207 juveniles, 120 adult females and 211 adult males were collected. The relationship of the total length and head length was allometric. Using the Von Bertalanffy equation the maximum length was calculated to be 6.66 ± 0.55 mm, the growth rate was 0.67 ± 0.02, which is faster and higher than in other peracarids. There was a significant relationship between the size of ovigerous females and the number of eggs, with an average of 6 ± 3.27 eggs and total length of 5.21 ± 0.57 mm, similar to that found in other studies. The net reproduction rate was 4.98, generation time 124.49 days, maximum intrinsic growth rate of 0.0131 and a low survival (15%). This work represents the first study on the population structure of the amphipodN. minikoi.